5 Pedals Everyone Should Own

Here it is, the top 5 effects everyone should own, well my spin on it anyway.

I set out to write an article on the top 5 effects a beginner should own - actually had a draft finished, but didn’t like it for a couple of reasons: 1) There’s literally dozens of variations on this, each pushing their version of the top 5 pedals.  2) It’s the last statement that I kept coming back to - “pushing their version”, which is the last thing I want to do.  So it evolved into the top 5 effects everyone should own.  Yes, I’ve started with a bold statement, perhaps it’s too bold, but I find myself constantly returning to these guidelines as I look at my ever growing, ever changing collection of effects.  Hopefully you will find something useful here whether you’re setting out to buy your first pedal or your 101st pedal.

Let’s face it - we’re spoilt for choice in terms of effects at the moment.  There are a plethora of brands, each with a myriad of pedals, all ready and available for enjoyment.  If you’re anything like me, you’ve seen pictures of huge pedals boards (or maybe you own one) and you wonder - where do I start (or restart/update/change).  

As I mentioned, there are a lot of articles telling you which effects you should own, and everyone has their own set of “Top 5” - instead I’m going to give five (or so) categories, and suggest why you would choose effects from each category.  I’ll also give a few examples of pedals that fit.

To start, I’m going to make another bold statement - only you will know which pedals you should buy.  Sounds counter intuitive when you’re just starting out, but let’s pull it apart - your guitar/bass/instrument and amplifier/modeller/plugin will play a huge part in your overall sound. Even more important is the music that you want to play - if you don’t like heavy distortion, there’s no point in buying one, just as if you only like heavy distortion, there’s less of a reason to buy a simple overdrive.  Long story short - mix and match from each category (or the same category if you want different shades of the same crayon) to fit your overall goal.

Note: Examples are just that - pedals that really showcase the category/sub-category that they are listed in.  I have owned many of the pedals that I have listed, some are from my wishlist, and a few are just good examples.  If I’ve missed a specific pedal/brand/category, I’ll apologise now, as this is meant to be a brief introduction/overview/reminder, not an all inclusive list.  And lastly, the “Maybe not for” is not a hard or fast rule, actually, it’s not a rule at all, just a guide to help in narrowing things down - feel free to disregard!

Tuner

I’m going to break with my above statement of mix and match and say that this one is a must for every stringed instrument - if you aren’t in tune, everything you play will be for nothing.  It’s important to spend time with your tuner, so you know how to use it - there’s scores of videos on YouTube where you can see tuners on pedalboards, but it’s quite evident that they either aren’t used or that the players don't know how to use them.

Best used for: Every stringed instrument

Maybe not for: There’s no excuse to not have a tuner:

1. Fender Original Black (clips onto headstock) 
2. Rockboard Stage Tuner
3. TC Electronic Polytune
4. Korg Pitchblack
5. Walrus Audio Canvas Tuner

> Check out all Tuners here

Overdrive (OD)

Overdrive pedals are usually designed to either give a low level of distortion - a slight coloration that can be “cleaned up” by lowering the instrument’s volume, or a boost to the overall volume.  There’s a few main categories (see Pedals 101 - Overdrives), each with different results.

Tube Screamers and variants

Best used for: An amp that already has some gain, cutting through a band

Maybe not for: A super clean amp or bedroom playing

1. EHX East River Drive
2. JHS 3 Series Screamer Overdrive
3. Ibanez TS9
4. Keeley Noble Screamer
5. Origin Effects Halcyon Green Overdrive
   
   

Klons and variants

Best used for: An amp that already has some gain

Maybe not for: Your only pedal/super clean amp

1. Behringer Centaur
2. Warm Audio Centavo
3. Wampler Tumnus
4. PRS Horsemeat
5. Ryra The Klone
   
   

Blues Breakers and variants

Best used for: Always on/smooth compression/soft clipping

Maybe not for: Super clean amps

1. Marshall Bluesbreaker
2. J. Rockett Audio Designs Blue Note Overdrive
3. MXR Duke of Tone
4. Analogman King of Tone
5. JHS Morning Glory
   
   

Blues Drivers and variants

Best used for: Providing overdriven sounds before the amp

Maybe not for: bright sounding guitar/amp combinations

1. Boss BD-2
2. Keeley x Andy Timmons Muse Driver
3. TC Electronic Cinders
4. JHS 3 Series Overdrive
5. DOD 250

> Check out all Overdrive here

Distortion

Distortion pedals usually start where overdrive pedals leave off - hard clipping, more compression, more sustain.  They are designed to affect your sound no matter what the input volume is - they don’t clean up at lower volumes.

Best used for: Consistent distortion no matter the volume

Maybe not for: clean/edge of breakup tones

1. Procot Rat 2
2. Boss DS-1
3. Thermion Gasoline High Octane Drive
4. Greer Amps Gorilla Warfare
5. Victory Amps Kraken
   

> Check out all Distortion here

Fuzz

Someone once described fuzz as distortion in a blender - there’s some kind of distortion happening, plus the noise of the blender itself.  Doesn’t sound musical, but it certainly can be.  Though sometimes it’s not, and that's kind of the point too.

Fuzz Face and variants  

Best used for: Fuzz that will clean up when input volume lowered

Maybe not for: High output/humbucker pickups

1. Dunlop Fuzz Face
2. JHS Smiley
3. Skreddy Pedals Angel Face
4. Silktone Fuzz+
5. ThorpyFX The Veteran

Big Muff and variants

Best used for: More control/more distortion like fuzz

Maybe not for: Anything subtle 

1. Frost Giant Electronics Big Fuzz
2. EHX Big Muff
3. EQD Hoof
4. ThorpyFX Fallout Cloud
5. JHS Muffuletta

Tone Bender and variants

Best used for: Raw, aggressive sound, humbuckers

Maybe not for: Can be very amp dependant

1. Keeley Fuzz Bender
2. Warm Audio Warm Bender
3. Benson Amps Storkn Boks
4. Analogman Sunbender MK IV
5. Behringer Fuzz Bender

> Check out all Fuzz here

Modulation

The key is in the name here - it modulates (varies the strength, tone or pitch) of the original signal over a period of time.  There’s many categories and cross categories - I’ll touch on the main ones.

Chorus

These typically thicken the sound, taking a copy of your original and making it seem like multiple versions of the same source are playing together.

Best used for: Thicken up a sound, almost anything 80’s

Maybe not for: An always on effect

1. Boss Dimension C
2. Strymon Ola
3. EHX Small Clone
4. Behringer Chorus Symphony
5. Walrus Audio Julianna
   
   

Phaser

The best way to describe a phaser is to think of reducing a frequency in the sound, and then changing the frequency over time.

Best used for: Adding movement to your sound - from subtle to in your face

Maybe not for: An always on effect

1. Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser
2. GFI System Synesthesia Stereo Modulation (note: multiple modulation effects pedal)
3. Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Phaser
4. MXR Phase 90
5. EHX Small Stone
   
   

Flanger

Take a copy of your sound, delay it slightly and play it over the original source.  Now vary the delay constantly.

Best used for: An in your face effect when you want to be noticed

Maybe not for: An always on effect

1. GFI System Synesthesia Stereo Modulation (note: multiple modulation effects pedal)
2. Boss BF-3 Flanger
3. EHX Walking On The Moon
4. EHX Electric Mistress
5. Wampler Terraform  (note: multiple modulation effects pedal)

Tremolo/Vibrato/Rotary

A tremolo pedal changes the volume, a vibrato pedal changes the pitch, and a rotary simulates the sound of moving speakers/baffles usually by changing both.

Best used for: Provide movement to almost anything

Maybe not for: ??

1. Strymon Flint
2. Jackson Audio Silvertone Twin Trem
3. Strymon Lex
4. JHS 3 Series Rotary
5. Fender Bubbler Analog Chorus/Vibrato
6. EHX Eddy Analogue Vibrato and Chorus

> Check out all Modulation here

Ambience (Reverb/Delay)

Reverb is usually used to create the effect of the sound being in a room (sound bouncing back and forth against the walls), delay will repeat the original source at a specific timed interval.

Best used for: Almost everything

Maybe not for: ??

1. Source Audio Ventris (Reverb)
2. Empress Effects Reverb
3. OBNE Dark Star (Reverb)
4. Matthews Effects The Technician (Delay and Reverb)
5. Source Audio Nemesis Delay
6. Way Huge Aqua-Puss (Delay)

> Check out all Reverb here

> Check out all Delay here

Wah

Wah pedals are technically modulation pedals that apply a filter to the input sound - instead of having a circuit that changes the pitch of the filter, they have a pedal, allowing you to move (or not move) the pitch up and down.

Best used for: Everything

Maybe not for: Everything

1. Fender Tread-Light Wah
2. Friedman No More Tears Gold 72 Wah
3. Dunlop Cry Baby
4. Vox Wah
5. Morley Wah

> Check out all Wah/Filter here

Mix & Match

Ok, that’s a great list, but where do I start?  After you’ve got your tuner, you’ve got a couple of “usual suspects” - overdrive/distortion for those types of tones, or chorus if you’re looking for something to add to a clean tone.  Here’s an example of how to build a sound:

Start:

1. Tuner
2. Overdrive 

A little more:

1. Tuner
2. Overdrive
3. Distortion

Add some ambience:

1. Tuner
2. Overdrive 
3. Distortion
4. Delay/Reverb

And finally some modulation:

1. Wah
2. Tuner
3. Overdrive
4. Distortion
5. Chorus
6. Delay/Reverb

Again, this is meant to be a guide, not an instruction manual - mix, match, imitate, emulate, inspire and create at your own pace.

We'd love to hear about your experience with any of these pedals and setups! Drop a comment below and tell us about any of them.

Thanks for being part of our FX Collective. Your support means the world to me! And remember, I'm always here, ready to help you elevate your sound.

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Joe has over 30 years of experience in the music industry. He is a musician, sound engineer, recording engineer, and has expertise in amp and pedal design. Additionally, he has worked as a guitar tech and in sales. He considers himself a "pedal junkie" - there’s always a new “bright and shiny” pedal that begs to be added to his pedalboard.